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South Florida in the cone for it's first Tropical Storm this season.

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Capt J, Jul 28, 2020.

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  1. bayoubud

    bayoubud Senior Member

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    No, not blaming anyone. The Ft. Pierce marina floating docks were blasted buy a slow-moving hurricane and constant wave action. Actually a low fixed solid dock deck that gets submerged early before a hurricane does better in exposed water. Our neighbor built a new fixed dock with the open grid plastic decking looks impressive.
  2. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    It's a shame what happened at Southport marina. The good news is it does look like all of them are still floating.

    I prefer to be in the water for a hurricane than hauled out. Hauled out, you're just relying on the weight of the boat on the stands. I've only seen one marina with strong pad eyes in the cement to tie them down. You're 1-2' away from other boats in a row. If the other guy didn't remove loose stuff it's hitting your boat. I've also seen where the entire row of boats has fallen over like domino's.

    My preference is very strong concrete floating docks. Add a bunch of lines and tie tight so there's no momentum going. Plenty of fenders.
  3. 993RSR

    993RSR Senior Member

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    Southport Marina fuel dock floated off its pilings according to a local TV news report. The photos show rows of bent over pilings. Very isolated. Bald Head Island did not report any damage.
  4. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    ZCZC MIATWOAT ALL
    TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM

    Tropical Weather Outlook
    NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
    800 AM EDT Wed Aug 5 2020

    For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

    The National Hurricane Center has issued the last advisory on
    Post-Tropical Cyclone Isaias, located over eastern Quebec.

    1. A small, well-defined low pressure system located a few hundred
    miles southwest of Bermuda is producing disorganized showers and a
    few thunderstorms. The low has been nearly stationary during the
    past several hours, but it is forecast to drift southwestward during
    the next couple of days. Any development of this disturbance should
    be slow to occur due to dry air and increasing upper-level winds.
    * Formation chance through 48 hours...low...10 percent.
    * Formation chance through 5 days...low...10 percent.

    Forecaster Stewart
  5. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    Kind of tough to believe given the low amounts of surge. Perhaps they meant that the dock floated off the pilings after they had bent way the heck over?
  6. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    That would be the way I read that.
  7. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    I don't know what surge they had. Myrtle Beach had 4'+ which is rather much for them and the storm didn't even hit them directly.
  8. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    That’s not surge damage as the closest tide stations (Myrtle and Wrightsville beach) reported 3 to 4’ above high tide. I ve seen marinas there, Pilings are way higher. Some marinas even have sliding extensions

    the pilings and docks failed because of a tornado.
  9. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    The media (https://www.live5news.com/2020/08/03/isaias-threatens-storm-surge-sc-beaches/ for an example) foretasted a surge from 2-4 feet. Not of this data was recorded.
    I would not call the dock damage from a tornado, technically a micro wind burst would be a better term. This would coincide with a local wind event in-between data recording stations and near no surrounding damage.
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2020
  10. bayoubud

    bayoubud Senior Member

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    So, what size tornado was it? The trees and buildings in the picture look undamaged.
  11. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Interesting location; Hazlet NJ. An Uncle reports; We have had a lot of old trees go down otherwise all is well. No flooding

    I think we have pretty much beat this puppy up enough.

    Although, I wonder what happens the next time Wolf is called or the media needs some boost to their income??
    Invest 94L is out there....
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2020
  12. RER

    RER Senior Member

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    Sorry to see the damage at Southport. Have enjoyed stopping there spending the night at the fuel dock and walking to a couple of funky seafood restaurants next door. Quaint little town too. That marina is dug out next to the ICW - closed in on almost all 4 sides except for the cut to get in and out. Once a surge got inside it would trap all that energy with nowhere to go and become quite a washing machine.